Culture, Customs and Etiquette for Georgia: Traveller Guide

Culture of guests and toast

For Georgia, guest na sacred person. Di old saying "guest na gift from God" (stumari ghvtisaa) dey shape everyday life: expect generous hospitality, sudden invitation and table wey never dey empty. If you refuse food or drink outright, e fit feel like say you dey refuse friendship, so accept am with grace and pace yourself.

Greeting and first impression

• Say gamarjoba ("hello", e mean "victory") when you arrive; di reply na gamarjobat.
• Handshake dey firm and common between men; friends dem dey hug or kiss for cheek.
• Madloba mean "thank you"; diakh na yes, ara na no.
• Dressing dey fairly relax, but Georgian people dey proud to look neat.

Di supra and di tamada

Supra (feast) na di heart of social life. Tamada (toastmaster) go lead sequence of heartfelt toast: for peace, for parents, for those wey don pass, for women, for Georgia. Wait for tamada before you drink wine, lift your glass for every toast, and no ever toast with beer (dem dey use am joke reserve for enemy). To toast with home-made wine or chacha (grape brandy) na normal thing; sip water if you wan slow down.

Wetin to do and wetin to no do

• Do try khachapuri, khinkali and Georgian wine, and praise di cook.
• Do chop khinkali dumpling with your hand, hold di doughy top-knot; no chop di knot itself.
• No do start drink before di first toast or pour your own glass first; fill your neighbour own first.
• No do discuss politics wey concern Russia carelessly; e dey sensitive matter.
• No do rush chop; to linger na di whole point.

Churches and monastery

Georgia dey deeply Orthodox. For places like Svetitskhoveli for Mtskheta, Gergeti near Kazbegi or Jvari, women suppose cover dia head (scarf dey available most time) and wear skirt; men suppose comot cap. Avoid shorts, dress modest, keep your voice low and ask before you snap worshippers or icon.

Tipping and everyday manners

• Restaurant dey increasingly add 10 to 15 percent service charge; if e no dey, to leave around 10 percent go show appreciation.
• Round up for taxi and small services; tip dey welcome but no be forceful thing.
• Bargain dey fine for bazaar like Dezerter for Tbilisi, but no bargain for shop.
• Smoking dey common, though dem ban am inside restaurant and bar.

Stay connected for Georgia

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